Have you ever offered to help someone else? It goes something like this, “If you need anything, anything at all, let me know!” Does that sound familiar?

You had good intentions. But then things come up, life gets busy and that phone call comes at an inopportune time. You see if they can handle the situation on their own first or you see if you can pawn it off on someone else.

I just wonder, why do we offer to help others in the first place if we don’t intend to follow through with what we say? Even if you had good intentions, good intentions don’t go far if you can’t put action behind your words. If you say something, you should mean it – DESPITE the inconvenience it might cost you. You see, that’s what true service is. It involves sacrifice. If you have to wait until a convenient time to help someone else – then no one would ever get your help! We have to make the decision ahead of time, to be willing to be there for someone else at whatever time he or she might need us. Otherwise, we shouldn’t offer.
It hurts to have people offer to be there for you and then realize that they didn’t really mean it. It hurts to have to go through things on your own when your load could be lightened by the love and time of friends and family. It hurts to feel alone.

There are times in life where people are going to need you. Maybe some more often than others depending on what hand they are dealt. Be the kind of person who is truly there for someone else – not just in words, but also in action. Because some day, you might be the one who needs someone to be there for you. And if you have been a “taker” most of your life and not a “giver,” at some point, people are going to get tired of the one-way relationship your friendship offers them.

It’s not up to us to evaluate someone else’ “need.” It’s only up to us to fill it if we are able to. God wants us to serve others with our time. Don’t let a little inconvenience get in your way of serving on His behalf.